McEneff proves difference

DERRY CITY playmaker Aaron McEneff brought, what threatened to be, a Brandywell bore to life as he set up a victory over Bray Wanderers. The midfielder hammered a 37th-minute penalty high into the Bray net after Cory Galvin had sent Jamie McDonagh crashing down to earth. Up to that point the home side had dominated the ball, but struggled in the final third. Rory Patterson and McEneff both failed to hit the target when well placed before Derry broke the deadlock, but Bray also had their chances. In the 22nd minute a mix-up between Gavin Peers and keeper Ger Doherty, let Daniel Kelly in but he struck the upright. Indeed, following the change of ends, Bray really should have been level but striker Kelly spurned two glorious chances. In the 50th minute, Kelly raced clear but failed to get his shot away when hassled by two Derry defenders. And in the 54th minute, the striker did well to weave his way into the box before his shot was blocked and spilled by Doherty with the danger being cleared. The visitors created another glorious chance to equalise in the 77th minute but Galvin forced Doherty into a fine save. However, the hosts ended the game as a contest, with a few minutes remaining when McEneff combined with Patterson on the edge of the penalty area before he curled the ball home from 14 yards. DERRY CITY: Doherty; McDonagh, Peers, Toal, Doyle; Ronan Hale (Delap 70), McDermott (Farren 88), Curtis; McEneff; Patterson. Scorer: McEneff 37, 87. BRAY WANDERERS: Moran; Hayes, Gibbons (Rogers 90), Heaney, Lynch; O’Connor, McKenna; Kelly, McCabe, Galvin; Coughlan (Pender 81). Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).